Unable to leave Windows Insider Program — stuck on expired build 26220.8165

Question

image.pngMy Windows 11 Home Single Language laptop is still running Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (25H2). I left the Windows Insider Program and Settings shows “Queued for unenrollment.” However, the device remains on the Insider build.

The build's certificate expired on August 11, 2026. Windows Update says “You're up to date,” but Windows continues showing the Insider certificate-expiry warning. I am not receiving a newer build or a transition to the stable Windows release.

The device is activated with a genuine digital Windows license. I have already performed Windows Reset once, but it did not remove the Insider build. I cannot use a clean USB installation because I need to preserve my existing applications, files, and working environment.

Please advise how I can move this device from Build 26220.8165 to the current supported stable Windows 11 release without losing my applications and files.

Answer 1

I left the Windows Insider Program and Settings shows “Queued for unenrollment.”

This doesn't take yor device back to released version.

To get back to released version follow these steps:

1). Download ISO for released version 25H2 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11?msockid=13c4190001016d9f341a0d8c008e6cab

2). Delete WindowsSelfHost key from registry to get device out of insider program.

Open regedit Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost Right click WindowsSelfHost -key and select delete. Restart.

3). Mount downloaded ISO (right click and select mount.

4). On mounted image to start in-place update to go to public version 25H2